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Scholastic has snapped up the fifth title from the Wonky Donkey stable by Craig Smith, illustrated by Katz Cowley.
Lynette Evans, publisher, Scholastic New Zealand, acquired world rights for the text directly from Smith and to the illustrations via Caroline Sheldon at the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency. The Stinky Wonky Donkey will be published simultaneously in New Zealand, Australia, the US, Canada and the UK in October 2023.
Originally published in 2009, The Wonky Donkey was a “treasured household name in New Zealand and Australia” according to the publisher until a 2018 video of Scottish granny Janice Clark reading the catchy, rhyming story to her grandson became a viral sensation with more than 200 million views. The Wonky Donkey then became a number one international bestseller with over 10 million copies in print across the series worldwide.
The series now includes The Dinky Donkey (2019), The Grinny Granny Donkey (2020) and Wonky Donkey’s Big Surprise (2021).
Cowley said: “As the illustrations for this story have taken form, they’ve revealed more of the sweet daddy-daughter closeness and the playful, warm-hearted fun between Wonky and Dinky. It was a joy to illustrate.”